Snow allows everyone a moment of reprieve before they move on ahead.
Snow was glad it was over. For now.
Fusing with Dori was one thing. Splitting Connie and Pink Steven was another.
Releasing a powerful new Diamond into the world was an event that nary anyone would ever get the honor to witness, even in the thousands of years of her own existence.
Realizing you were previously shattered and lied to. That hurt her the most.
She was left to pick up the pieces of those around her. Meant to help out fight off the Lillim with her newfound power to turned gems to stone. It was a horrible power that she would scarcely use. Milky had a lot more to answer for by this point. She didn't have time to mellow when there were other gems who needed her help.
Tiger Iron split up unceremoniously, their regular forms left splayed on the floor and groaning in pain. Snow couldn't fathom on how such a fusion came to be to begin with. A monstrosity, to be sure, but effective and powerful.
"Colour me impressed." Stevonnie commented as they helped Jasper on her feet, who still carried the Bubble. They watched Lapis pick up Peridot, who was left dizzy and mystified.
"Not bad for your first fusion." Lapis complemented, as Peri came too and rubbed her cheeks as she blushed.
They talked about the fight for a few minutes as Snow joined the conversation. They weren't sure with what to do with the bubble. Snow took hold of it and examined it properly.
"I'll have to put this under proper examination to see if Black Pearl can be cured." Snow mentioned as she sent the bubble away. A cure once considered impossible, but if they could contain it somehow, that maybe they might be able to figure out how to treat infected Gems. Milky was supposed to do this and that maybe, they could find something within the facility that help with that. Black Pearl was once a pleasant gem from what little Snow could put her for in the past, though how much was true was up to how up to scratch Snow's current memories were. Dori helped, but even then...it doesn't make up for the lack of clarity in once was and wasn't. She'd have to figure that out eventually. For now, they had an important job to do.
"She'll be somewhere safe and secure."
Stevonnie nodded, then exhaustion overcame them as they collapsed all of a sudden, as Snow caught them just in time, their Aura erratic.
Connie was the one who surprised her. The gem meant for her, a human of all species. To become Hope itself meant she would become like Steven, in a weird way. Although they'd split into Connie and Pink Steven in the blink of an eye, which surprised her even more. His first order once defused was to wander over to the debris and pick up something. He then wandered back to Snow as he handed it over.
Apophyllite. She'd almost forgotten about it. Why Pink Steven decided to help out like that was beyond her understanding. His programming as a pure gem form without its important human aspect was jarring to say the least. It made her wonder if Connie had an effect on him in anyway. She tucked the Blackbox onto her cloak as she carried a passed out Connie in one of her arms, as Pink Steven took her spare hand. How very...human of him.
They left the cavern in silence and returned back to the Warp Pad.
Reappearing in Milky's Private Chambers was like taking trip down memory lane. The Pink wall didn't surprise her, seeing pictures of Steven, Connie and Stevonnie. Dori laid down against it as Snow put Connie down to allow her to rest, then had Pink Steven standing guard next to them.
There was a lot for her to think about, even as Jasper griped about wasting time.
"Connie is still human." Snow told her.
"It'll take her time to get used to her new powers. Training would required for her to regain her endurance and stamina. Two Diamonds in one body would be putting too much pressure on the human part of it. Pink Steven needs his other half to counter balance that."
Peridot looked down at them as Connie rested peacefully.
"Humans need to recharge. I don't know why they didn't just create a full Diamond gem instead of one being designed for a human body." She pointed out.
That thought did cross Snow's mind. They talked about what they knew thus far in regards to the Prophecy at hand. The Curse of Hope and the Sight of Stone.
The next part was the Cosmos of Despair.
She took her time to have a look at the data Milky had on her console and talked with the others about what they had seen so far.
There were a lot of documents and blueprints, graphs of all of the projects they'd worked on over the years. This...generally wouldn't have even been the scale of what an ordinary Snow Quartz would have gone through anyway. Outpost Majors were large by default...just not this big. She debated on the revelation that she was no longer a true Snow Quartz, as the others explained a bit about what they'd found.
Shattered beyond recognition, they'd saved some pieces and merged them with a Medusa Quartzes that had popped out stillborn. That was formed as part of the Alpha Kindergarten and taken down on Black Star Sapphires prompting. Jasper mentioned some of the records back down in Diga's Room. A kind of special human that helped them out and helped reform Snow.
The name Diga sounded familiar, though Snow was unable to recall where she'd heard the name. That would be where they'd need to go next. The only problem was Snow couldn't find any records of where Milky had disappeared to, which made her worry even further about her safety and whether or not she'd been corrupted. The only worth known file Snow could find was a shot of their old crew on the Lillim planet. One of the squads they'd formed there. It had Milky, Snow-Throat, herself, Cloudy and the rest with their respective Labradorites. Image of the brighter days before darker nights.
"Jasper." She said.
"Lead me to the human room you mentioned, please."
Lapis carried Connie awkwardly, as they wandered through the hallways, with Snow and Jasper leading the charge while Peridot held hands with Pink Steven to get him to walk alongside them, although she was very cautious in doing so. She had a fundamental idea about how her power worked now, being able to freeze gems in their wake and turned their forms to stone. Funnily enough, there was distinct lack of any Lillim nearby, which was nice, but ideas ran through Snow's head like no tomorrow.
They'd made it to Diga's Room and noted all the odd decor that seemed oddly human. Lapis flew up to the bed nearby and rested Connie on top of it and helped her settle in by removing her jacket and shoes and stuck them with her gear beside the bed, while Pink Steven stood by and watched over her with the blue gem. Jasper mentioned they'd gone through the files on the computer earlier and found out more info in regards to Medusa herself, as well the remainder of Milky's core crew.
Reading Diga's journals disturbed her as she sat and lurched over the monitor and keyboard, finding out not only did they had her forged back together, but Diga had supposedly infused part of her power to her, rendering her immune to any future corruption and further unknown abilities. What ever that meant. Not to mention she was forced to poof Milky, to protect herself from her own insanity. This Diga had the nerve to hide all this and the GIS from her, while there was still so much she couldn't remember. The name Lilith did press a few buttons, but not much else.
It was clear to proceed, they needed the GIS to get access to the shadowy region of the Southeastern Section to find more answers and to save the others from certain doom.
"This Cosmos of Despair." Peridot worded.
"It's not meant to be you and Connie out into the galaxy fighting the Lillim now is it?"
It's a possibility. But the Prophecy wouldn't be that literal. Diga had this Petra empower her to some unknown extent, knowing that there was considerable stretches with Black Star Sapphires visions to begin with.
"I doubt it." Snow replied.
"There's been no extra data about what we have to do...or who we have to fight other than that ambiguous phrase. But I'm betting what ever it is, it's in the next area. They were insistent on various protocols to keep what it was in there...or to keep others out."
She found a journal entry that was titled, Medusa - Me and promptly read it.
A species is a species. Grounded in its own limitations and attributes. For what the future holds for this place... infinitesimal at face value but much more when connected together. Body, Mind, Spirit. No matter which place it is... its always required a trio of realities unto itself. Milky is useful in pertaining the secrets of her kind, namely the Diamonds and their godlike powers. But it's been interesting, how Petra now holds Black Star in high regard and imparting a bit of herself had her powers increase beyond any seer of their cut. An idea that gives us an edge.
I understand the strength that love holds. I have been in love myself, given form of the children of our making. Milky and her "Snowflake." Milky would never admit it, too stubborn for her to admit when her whole steely facade was entirely focused on fulfilling the Prophecy, shielding the others of her devastation of Snowflakes shattering. Meeting Rose Quartz (true identity withheld) had her adamant and desperate for her to somehow heal Snowflake. But the gem was beyond repair.
See underneath Milky's strong, leader style exterior, lies a twisted thinking gem. She is not evil. Far from it. She clung on to Black Star implicitly, desiring to see a future with Snowflake in it again. She wasn't like this before the War. I know how much the death of a loved one can change you. Grief and despair compel you to act in ways you've never displayed before.
I agreed to help with Snowflakes resurrection on terms where I can observe the gem in question. Where the projected failures are learned from and new opportunities are born. I'd taken it on myself to understand gem structures in greater detail, namely the fascinating math and science behind their existences. The Medusa Quartz gem was originally from the Alpha Kindergarten but she was stillborn, like most from those Quadrants. It didn't mean that we couldn't use the spare parts provided. The power to freeze or to turn other gems to stone was something not quite achieved before. Not for the purposes of the Reconnaissance Gems Snow Quartzes were known for being.
Early experiments to fuse stillborn gems with broken shards were immoral, but the Pyrope Garnet was more than willing to experiment. Some were failures due to the sheer instability of the fusion experiments and had to be broken again. Bodies with Spirit...with no given mind to run them. Or maybe there was a mind and body and no spirit?
It'd given me an idea. As Petra bonded herself to Black Star, I bonded myself to Snowflake. The fundamental structure had worked. Once the reconstruction was complete, Milky and I worked to shape the gem properly, balancing its properties and the gems unique design. Half Snow Quartz and Half Medusa with the salvaged pieces. Her front will still be Snowflake, but backed up with the cumulative power of the Medusa Quartz. Snowdusa? Medsnow? Bah. She's okay as Snowflake or she'd be happy to remain as Snow or Medusa. What ever she so chooses is the promise of a human born free will.
But the fabric that tied them together neatly and ensured her wavelengths and light mass were on level? Me. Well, a part of me. Not a great deal due to my uh...status. But it was enough to form Snow Medusa into a well defined individual. It's amusing though. Her form? her look? Similar to mine. Similar mindsets perhaps? The lines between it are all blurred.
Images flashed through Snow's vision of the woman with the white hair and fantastical armor.
I'm keen to discover what this future will hold. The Curse of Hope...the young human girl Connie, yet to be born, and the Sight of Stone...Medusa Quartz, grown from the fallen. The Cosmos of Despair remains to be seen, though Black Star was almost pushed to breaking point by Milky in trying to figure that out. I'd imagine it'd have to be Lilith but somewhere in the back of my mind tells me that isn't the case. Black Star did write it out in gem language so there could be some translation error along the line.
All in all, it'll be interesting to see how all this maps out. I'm keen to root out Lilith and get her when she's the least prepared. I know her too well now, keen to flee when it gets too much.
"Snow?"
She was snapped out of her trance by Peridot. This atmosphere was too familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. She didn't want to fall to sorrow, but she couldn't help it.
"I'll go out there and find the others." Snow told them.
"You all need to stay here to protect Connie."
Jasper grumbled.
"No, I'll go with you." She said.
She did not wish to risk their danger. She was immune to infection at least. The others weren't.
Once one horrible thought wandered in, it left the door open to thousands of others. Like Steven's human form. How could she be so weak that she couldn't reform when they needed her the most? This was her fault. She needed to fix this.
"Jasper...I couldn't ask you to." Snow told her.
To some Snow would be seen as an abomination on Gem kind. Once this was over, she'll bury this whole place if she had to. Fight off the Lillim and find this Diga who resurrected her...if only if Milky were still here. She'd explain it. She just had to.
"No. You need firepower out there. You're the only one who can freeze gems up. Line em up and I'll knock em down." Jasper suggested with confidence.
Destroy gems. Like she destroyed Milky. Images of her being poofed by her own Labradorite when Snow tried to defend herself flung back to her.
"Snow?"
Again...she was distracted by the open door policy on her mind right now.
"Are you...feeling alright?" Lapis asked.
No. Well, she was angry, distressed, confused. Combination of a righteous lashing out by this point. She wiped a tear from her face after she'd realized she'd started to cry. They needed her. She needed to save them from thousands of years of mistakes and tragedies. All of them. This was her burden to bear. No one elses. Not even Connie. She's the one who's really suffering. Being forced into this...mess. None of that was her fault. All because Snow was simply not strong enough that this could all twist the greatest darkness.
"I will be." Snow replied. How true that was...was her truth to mold.
They could use Apophyllite to help them out with this mess too. She noticed a slot near the rightmost door. This must have been the one Jasper mentioned, requiring the Blackbox to open it. She got off the chair and used it on the console on the right side of the door. Apophyllites Sphere projected itself from the top.
"Apophyllite, I need to know the status of the Southeastern Section."
"Scanning." It replied.
"Lillim in area causing interference. Scans may be sixty four percent in accuracy."
Of course.
"Tracking organics inside Southeastern Section. Detecting Gems in Southeastern Section."
But where were they?
"Are there any schematics or general notable sections?" Peridot asked it.
Good question.
"Downloading interior map data. Information update. Organics detected in Experimenta Room One and Two. Unknown life force detected in Storage Room Twelve. Warning, Unknown Life Force in Storage Room Twelve has been Quarantined due to Lillim infection. Apophyllite enacting Faraday Sphere. Blocking exterior comms."
Experimenta Rooms? She hadn't seen any of those anywhere besides Homeworld. Mostly for interrogation and testing mostly for unruly gems. This unknown life force does have cause for concern, however.
"Possible Gems detected in Experimenta Room Four. Lillim interference scale from Experimenta Rooms. Three. Lillim interference scale from Storage Room Twelve. Thirteen."
Snow thought the scale went up to ten. What ever the stars was in Storage Room Twelve must been incredibly potent.
"Meep." Peridot commented.
"That's troubling..."
Snow agreed that much. They had to find out more about what was going on here. Luckily enough, they had Peridot to be able to look into the incredulous trove of data within the comm logs they could look into, while Snow looked at Connie and the desire to protect grew even more.
What was in Storage Room Twelve?